This year, World Health Day is focusing attention on the urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy, as WHO estimates that 13 million deaths annually are as a result of avoidable environmental causes.
The climate crisis continues to exacerbate health issues in humans, with cases of heart disease and cancer, as well as obesity, continuing to rise. It is also contributing to:
90% of humans across the globe breathing unclean air
Plastic making its way into the deepest oceans, and even our food chain
Mosquitoes carrying diseases farther and faster than ever before
Increased greenhouse gas emissions from unhealth food and drinks manufacturers
The Covid-19 pandemic has also highlighted issues and inequalities in our world. The current design of our economy distributes wealth and power unfairly, leaving too many people living in poverty without access to proper healthcare and leading to even more avoidable deaths.
Shifting to a well-being economy would put ecological sustainability, equity and human health at the forefront. It would help to break destructive and damaging cycles, by putting in place legislative action and incentivizing healthier choices.
Both the climate crisis and pandemic have highlighted the power of science, and how effective healthcare can heal our world.
For over 30 years, CK Group has been working alongside global pharmaceutical and healthcare organisations to develop life-saving treatments and medical devices. Alongside this, we’ve helped bring pioneering clinical trials to life in order to make effective healthcare available to all.
Find out how we can support your recruitment projects here, or get in touch to discuss your needs here.
Or, search our latest science and clinical jobs here.
Run by the career management team, ChemCareers is a monthly webinar series providing advice, access to experts and inspiration for your career. They give the opportunity to hear from a wide range of experts within the chemical sciences industry, including CK Group, and put forward your own questions to them.
You can learn more about things like how to network, different paths to pursue in chemicals, and how to move from academia into industry.
We’re also hosting our own session as part of the series on the 12th May, on job hunting pitfalls and how to avoid them. We’ll be covering the most common mistakes candidates make during the job search process, and how you can maximise the effectiveness of working with a recruitment agency.
Reserve your place, or find out more about the webinars on offer this year below.
This week is British Science Week, which celebrates all things science, technology, engineering and maths. It aims to acknowledge the incredible achievements being made across the world, and bring awareness to current issues within the field.
This year’s theme is growth, so we’re honouring the women who have made incredible contributions within STEM, and looking at how far we have come over the last 100 years.
Looking back
The First and Second World Wars were instrumental in catapulting women into STEM. As the men went off to fight in the trenches, women were given the opportunity to take on engineering and manufacturing roles that had not previously been available to them.
Outside of this, women made important discoveries in a number of scientific fields throughout the early 20th century. Ida Slater, a British scientist, was instrumental in the study of fossils – and whose work is still today regarded as the best in the world in terms of diversity. Also, around this time, Katherine Esau used her botany expertise to investigate the effects of viruses on plants – specifically on plant tissue and development. Her work has been used as key structural biology texts for decades.
Female botanist Katherine Esau
However, many women seeking careers in STEM faced a number of challenges – including discrimination on university courses, and humiliation from their male counterparts. Those working within science were often excluded from main laboratories (allowed to work only in basements), and would have their research findings ignored, ridiculed or stolen.
There was reluctance to allow equal rights, despite their tremendous efforts and significant contributions. As a result, organisations such as the Women’s Engineering Society and the Association for Women in Science were founded. These were established in order to promote STEM as a rewarding career path, and resist pressure to give up roles in favour of men.
The rise of technology during the 20th century arguably helped to provide more STEM related opportunities for women, as new professions exploded onto the scene. Electrical engineering, for example, became huge and was led by a number of women – including Dame Caroline Haslett (founder and editor of The Woman Engineer journal) and Verena Holmes (who established her own engineering firm that employed only females).
Women in STEM today
Today, women face many fewer barriers to entry in science, technology, engineering and maths careers. Gender equality has progressed in the context of education, as university courses are much more accessible and encouraged. Women are free to apply to whichever jobs they choose to, as expectations to stay at home and raise families have diminished (although not entirely).
However, male candidates are often still hired preferentially, as this has historically always been the case. The lack of representation of women across the media sadly appears to deter many from entering the profession, as youngsters cannot see themselves within the industry. Girls are very much still encouraged to take up roles that roles that centre around caring for others, or roles that work below men.
Statistics suggest that women account for only around 25% of the UK STEM workforce, and there is a significant gender pay gap. The Royal Society of Chemistry’s recent survey, for example, found that men earn an average of £11,000 more per year than their female counterparts across the chemical sciences. This shows that despite the lower barriers to entry, appreciation for women is still yet to increase – and a pressing issue that companies and governments need to address.
What the future holds
We have made a number of steps in the right direction over the last 100 years, but to achieve true equality we must completely change our culture. This includes senior leaders of organisations not just saying the right things, but also doing them. Educational institutions need to give more support to young girls to highlight STEM careers as appealing and accessible, and representation across the media should increase alongside this.
Increasing diversity within the workforce will have multiple benefits not just to women, but the industry as a whole. Technology is developing at an increasingly fast pace, and now more than ever, solutions are needed to save our planet from global warming. Therefore, it needs the brightest talent to take the reins and propel us forwards into a world where gender equality is the norm, and where womens’ achievements are not brushed under the carpet.
It can be confusing trying to get to grips with IR35 legislation, and what impact it will have on your work as a contractor.
We’ve outlined everything you need to know below about working through an umbrella company versus working PAYE via an agency, so you can make an informed decision.
What does it mean if I work PAYE via an agency?
When you are contracted via CK you become employed for the duration of your contract and are enrolled onto our PAYE system to be paid weekly or monthly. As your employer, we make the necessary deductions (tax, National Insurance, pension) and provide you with a pay slip. There is no charge for using CK’s payroll, and we offer paid holidays and other statuary requirements, such as pension and SSP.
What is an umbrella company?
All umbrella companies work in the same way. When you are contracted via an umbrella company, you are effectively employed by them and enrolled onto their PAYE system. They pay you an income after deducting items such as tax, National Insurance contributions and their service fees. CK has a preferred list of umbrella companies you can use that have been pre-vetted.
What else should I consider?
Using an umbrella company adds a third-party into the equation, and when it comes to payments and queries, you ultimately will need to contact them for a resolution. Alternatively, working via CK on a PAYE contract means you have direct contact with our payroll team, with clear deadlines and pay schedules to follow.
PAYE
Easy to set up
Paid holidays
Direct contact with payroll
No additional fees
Just like being employed
Umbrella
Need to register to set up
Third party link
Weekly or monthly fees
Why is the agency quoting different rates for the umbrella company and PAYE options?
The key difference (and reason for the different rates) is to do with how they treat holiday pay and National Insurance contributions. Umbrella companies will allow you to “roll in” holiday pay into your regular pay. This is beneficial if you don’t take any holidays, but not entirely legal. By working in this way, you are only paid for the days you work. The umbrella company will also take the employer’s NI from their rate – so although the headline figure is higher, after deductions it should come out roughly the same.
My contract is ‘inside’ IR35 – what does that mean?
In simple terms, the client has decided that the service you provide reflects a service of employment, not self-employment, and they have decided the role is therefore inside IR35. Some clients stipulate how you must contract with the agency if the contract is inside IR35, and this is usually one of two options: umbrella company or PAYE.
What is IR35?
IR35 is the term used to describe the UK tax legislation that was designed to combat tax avoidance. It applies to workers who are supplying their services to clients via an intermediary, such as a limited company, but who would be classed as an employee if the intermediary was not used. It also applies to the firms hiring them.
For more information on your working options or IR35, get in touch with us here.
On 5th February, we got the whole CK team together to celebrate our 30 year anniversary at Breadsall Priory Country Club.
We had a brilliant evening and it was great to see everybody together in one place after such a long time due to lockdowns, and we’re already looking forward to the next one.
One thing we pride ourselves on at CK Group is our long-serving team, so we also honoured our long-serving team members for over 10, 15 and even 20 years of service with us!
We’d also like to thank you for your ongoing support. CK would not be the company it is today without the support of our candidates, clients and contractors.
The team at our dinner eventThe CK Key Accounts Team
We are proud to have recently sponsored the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Pay and Reward Report for 2021. which surveyed almost 4300 chemists across the UK.
The report aims to build a picture of the employment landscape – including salaries, job security, skills and employee needs – and is a highly valuable resource for those working within the profession. Not only does it provide benchmarking data for individuals, employers and recruiters, it also provides vital information for driving positive change within the chemical sciences and beyond.
What does the report reveal?
Median salary has increased across the industry
Those in the chemical sciences landscape are earning a median salary of £46,500 – which is 3.5% higher than the median salary of 2019’s report, and in line with the UK rate of inflation.
The highest paying sectors include industrial/commercial, the public sector and consulting practices; with general management, sales and marketing, and quality assurance/control roles earning the most.
Motivations for working in chemical sciences
The top motivator for those working in the chemical sciences is being passionate about what they do, followed by being able to do work that has a positive impact on society.
Healthy work-life balance is also a key motivator, with the survey seeing a significant jump in the number of respondents indicating that flexible working is offered by their employer. This may be as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic increasing the need for remote working.
Employee retention and development
The majority of survey respondents indicated that they expected to stay with their current employer over the next 12 months. The top reasons for choosing to progress with a current employer include taking on more responsibility, career advancement and personal development – although the vast majority say that they experience one or more barriers to obtaining the skills they need to develop their career. Lack of time appears to be the biggest challenge, suggesting that companies could do more to prioritise training and learning opportunities for their staff.
On the other hand, those looking to move employers in the next 12 months indicated change of location, more job security and better management as their top reasons.
The report highlights the work that is still to be done in the chemical sciences landscape in order to achieve equality and create a fairer working culture.
Royal Society of Chemistry members can download the report for free here.
You might have noticed recently that we’ve changed.
You’re probably familiar with our highly renowned brands CK Science, CK Clinical and CK Technical. However, from January 2022, to make it easier for our customers to find and work with us, we’re merging our brands into one so we’re known as CK Group everywhere.
We’re still offering the same fantastic service we have done for 30 years, and are still specialising in scientific, clinical and technical recruitment – but you’ll now find everything in one place.
Same us. One place, one name.
We’ve also got a brilliant new website where you can find:
Candidate zone – filled with careers advice articles, free downloadable resources and insightful job profiles
Contractor zone – submit a timesheet, get clued up on the IR35 regulations or find out about your contracting options with us
Client zone – filled with information about the services we offer, client case studies and downloadable employer resources
Who we are – get to know our incredible team, read the CK story and find out how to join us for a career in recruitment
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions that have presented themselves this year, we’ve had an incredibly successful year and worked with some fantastic companies and candidates.
We want to take this time to thank you for your support throughout 2021. Take a look at just a few of the exciting things we’ve been up to.
We’ve found jobs for thousands of candidates across the globe
Since launching a year ago, our US division has gone from strength to strength, and we’ve found jobs for a range of talented professionals including Study Directors, QC Analysts and Analytical Scientists across the East Coast of America.
Our UK and Swiss teams have also been working extremely hard, from placing Process Engineers in Lucerne, to Statisticians in Cambridge, to Clinical Study Leads in Munich, to Laboratory Technicians in Dundee.
We’ve worked on some incredible projects
This year, we’ve partnered with some pioneering organisations and worked on a number of life-changing projects. In collaboration with EMS Healthcare, we helped launch the world’s largest trial of the pioneering early-detection Galleri cancer test, which can identify 50 types of cancer before symptoms start.
We’ve also worked with ground-breaking pharmaceutical companies like Ellipses Pharma, and specialist consultancies such as Boyds Consultants.
We’ve been honoured with a Supplier Excellence Award
For the sixth year running, we were recognised by Kelly OCG for our commitment to providing a superior service that has made a significant impact on the business. We were placed within the top 1% of Kelly OCG’s supply chain, and are proud to see our continued partnership thrive.
Our team attended a virtual awards ceremony back in May which celebrated the honorees and recognised their hard work, support and diligence.
We’ve provided some interesting insights
We’ve spent time investigating trends in recruitment and the long-lasting effects that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on working arrangements, in order to find out what the recruitment landscape will look like going forward.
We found that two thirds of people this year have found that the job hunting process has been made more difficult by the pandemic, and flexible working is here to stay – with 100% of those surveyed indicating that they would be allowing it indefinitely.
We’re excited to announce that CK Group will be exhibiting at TOPRA’s Regulatory Careers Live 2021 event on the 19th October – our first face-to-face event of the year.
Regulatory Careers Live is for those looking to start or further their career in healthcare regulatory affairs, as well as life science students and recent graduates. It offers the opportunity to meet with potential employers, network with likeminded professionals and get valuable careers advice from a range of leaders within the field.
Clinical recruitment consultant Andy Leake be hosting a presentation on how to give yourself the best opportunity to start a career in RA, which will cover:
How to write an effective CV and cover letter
What recruiters want to see from candidates, and how to stand out from the competition
Acing a regulatory job interview
Where to find the most useful resources
Attendees can also book one-to-one careers advice sessions with our consultants, where they will be able to get insider tips on job searching within regulatory affairs.
Find out more about the event below, we can’t wait to see you there!
Amgen, one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, is deeply rooted in science and innovation to transform new ideas and discoveries into medicines that treat serious illnesses. They are committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients, as well as helping to reduce the social and economic burden of disease in society today.
They have also recently been involved in manufacturing a breakthrough tumor-stopping drug, Sotorasib, that is being fast-tracked to 600 NHS patients in England. The drug has been proven to stop lung cancer growing for seven months by targeting the mutation of the KRAS gene, which is a major development in cancer care.
So, what is it like to work with Amgen as a contractor? We interviewed a Senior Project Coordinator who we recently found a job for to find out more.
What do you enjoy about working with Amgen?
“In addition to being part of a well known, respectable and world leading company, I really like how much they care about employee engagement. This creates a respectful and relaxed working atmosphere. All employees are valued for their skills and knowledge that they bring to the table, and on a personal level people are friendly and respectful towards each other.”
What are the benefits of working as a contractor with Amgen?
“It gives you an insight into how global companies work. You can learn a great work ethic and gain experience with applications and systems often used in such places. Networking is also a great benefit.”
What flexibility does Amgen offer?
“Working from home is completely acceptable if the role allows it. All required equipment is provided, and you are often part of an international team where you can adjust your hours accordingly. The importance of work-life balance is constantly emphasized and recommendations and tips are shared to help with maintaining it.”
CK Group’s former Operations Director, Liam O’Connell, helped to support Amgen over the last 12 years and said “We are proud to have supported Amgen by sourcing high calibre staff as they continue to develop ground-breaking treatments for serious illnesses.
We have placed many scientific and clinical professionals in permanent and contract positions, and the level of satisfaction from candidates is amongst the highest of all our clients.
The biotechnology sector is extremely exciting and dynamic, and Amgen are a global leader in this field – a great company to consider joining.”
To find out more about contracting with Amgen, or the opportunities available, contact Key Accounts Manager Lucy Stendall.
More than 100,000 people will take part in the trial by providing blood samples to be analysed through the ground-breaking Galleri test, which could one day be rolled out to become routinely available through the NHS. It will help thousands more people get successful treatment every year, and could be a game-changer in early cancer care.
The trial will operate through eight Cancer Alliances across England, covering a range of locations including Greater Manchester, South East London and the West Midlands. Mobile units provided by EMS Healthcare will be placed within each Cancer Alliance to give geographical reach of participants.
CK Group’s clinical division has provided a wealth of support to the incredible trial, recruiting for the 84 research nurses involved in performing the Galleri test and administering the study.
Recruitment Manager Russell Oakley has said about the project “It’s such a great privilege to be partnering with EMS Healthcare on the GRAIL Galleri trial, helping in the fight with cancer. As a specialist clinical recruiter I don’t always get to see the whole picture of a clinical trial, but the Galleri test will enable myself and the team here at CK Group to see how the study unfolds by supporting the dedicated team of nurses involved. Exciting times for us.”
If successful, the new test could play a major part in achieving the NHS’s ambition of catching three quarters of cancers at an early stage. This means that it really is the beginning of a revolution, and CK Group are proud to have had an involvement in its trial.
As we approach our 30th anniversary of recruiting staff for the science sectors, CK Group has welcomed a number of new staff to join our teams both in the UK and internationally.
We are continuing to grow across our scientific, clinical and engineering divisions, and are delighted to welcome our new team members. They have joined us to help ensure that we continue to offer exceptional levels of recruitment services to our clients.
Liam O’Connell, former Operations Director of CK, said “We are all very excited to welcome our new colleagues, and I am looking forward to watching them develop as consultants within the organisation. Each of them brings a range of additional skills, which will help our clients and candidates get the highest level of support within the recruitment process.”
Annet Racz, who recently joined our Key Accounts Team, has said about her experience so far “I joined the company in March of this year and I can say that this was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I’m really enjoying my time here. Everyone is really friendly, they are supportive and celebrate with me at every step.”
“Coming from a different country, the biggest challenge for me was being confident enough using English as a second language. However, I am really lucky because I have never felt that this is a disadvantage and everyone has been encouraging to help me build my confidence.”
“This job is exactly what I was looking for, it is always busy and challenging. Everyday is a new opportunity to learn something from professional colleagues, and the office is always full of life now we are able to get back to our normal lives. I couldn’t wish for a better experience.”
CK Group continues to grow and will be looking for further staff throughout 2021. If you are interested in joining us, find out more about what it’s like to be part of our team here, or contact our HR Manager, Naomi Menary.
